Panchakshara Stotra
Panchakshara Stotra is a sacred hymn composed in the Sanskrit language in praise of Lord Shiva. It is also known as the Shiva Panchakshara or the five-lettered mantra of Shiva. The stotra consists of five syllables – “Na”, “Ma”, “Shi”, “Va”, and “Ya” – which together form the sacred mantra “Om Namah Shivaya”. Here is the complete text of the Panchakshara Stotra:
Nagendra-haraya trilochanaya
Basmanga-ragaya mahesvaraya
Nityaya suddhaya digambaraya
Tasmai ‘na-karaya namah shivaya
Mandakini-salila-chandana-charchitaya
Nandisvara-pramathanatha-mahesvaraya
Mandarapushpa-vanaspati-rakshakaya
Tasmai ‘ma-karaya namah shivaya
Shivaya gauri-vadanabja-vrinda
Suryaya daksha-dvara-nashakaya
Sri-nee-la-kantha-dhavalaya tasmai
“Si-vakaraya” namah shivaya
Vasishta-kumbhodbhava- gautamarya
Munindra-devarchita-sekharaaya
Chandrarka-vaishvanara-lochanaya
Tasmai ‘va-karaya namah shivaya
Yakshasvara-pannaga-raja-vilasaya
Sthana-vasa-sthita-shuchaye
Sarva-vyapi-khila-loka-dhatri-namo
‘Karakaya’ namah shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya, Om Namah Shivaya
Har Har Bole Namah Shivaya
Rameshwara Shiva Rameshwara
Hara Hara Bole Namah Shivaya
Here is the English meaning of the stotra:
Salutations to the God who wears the king of snakes as a garland, who has three eyes and who is adorned with ashes. He is the great Lord and eternal purity, and He is naked and free from all bonds. Salutations to the letter “Na”.
Salutations to the God who is worshipped with water from the Ganges, sandalwood paste, and flowers. He is the Lord of Nandi, the God of the pramatha gana, and the protector of trees like the Mandara. Salutations to the letter “Ma”.
Salutations to the God who has a white complexion like the snow and a radiant face like the lotus. He is the destroyer of the sacrifice of Daksha, and He shines like the sun. Salutations to the letter “Shi”.
Salutations to the God who is worshipped by sages like Vasishta, Gautama, and others. He is the Lord of the Devas and the protector of the Moon, Sun, and Fire. Salutations to the letter “Va”.
Salutations to the God who plays with the king of serpents and is adorned with a shining body. He dwells in all beings, and He is the support of the whole world. Salutations to the letter “Ya”.
Om Namah Shivaya, Om Namah Shivaya, Har Har Bole Namah Shivaya. Salutations to Rameshwara, the Lord of Shiva, and to the Hara Hara Bole Namah Shivaya.